Package



March 7, 1933.

J. H. REED PACKAGE Filed Sept. 22, 1931 I Jhue/ lor: am a. YQQA By W QT) 5712a,

fliionz eys Patented Mar. 7, 1933v UNITED sTATEs JAMES H. REED, OF MARBLEHEAD, MASSACHUSETTS rncxaen Application filed September 22, 1931. Serial No. 564,803.

This invention relates to the packaging of roups of separate articles, and especially, although not exclusively, to-the packaging of cigarettes or the like.

A well known type of cigarette package includes a wrapper which encloses a suitable number (usually twenty) of cigarettes, the ends of the wrapper being folded inwardly in the form of superimposed flaps closing the ends of the package, and the flaps at one end being sealed by the usual revenue stamp which is afixed to the ackage across the closure flaps at one end t ereof, with the intention that'said stamp will be broken or torn away in order to expose the flaps when the package is opened at that end.

However, it has become customary, in order to retain the unused cigarettes as securely as possible within their container until all have been used, not to open the end of the package completely, but, on the contrary, to tear away a portion of the end flaps at one side of the stamp to form a restricted openin through which the cigarettes are successlvely withdrawn. In so opening the package the stamp is not destroyed, as required by law, and is frequently left intact when the entirely emptied wrapper is discarded.

Some difiiculty is also experienced in removing the first cigarette, due to the fact that all of the cigarettes of the group are tightly bound together by their enclosing wrapper, and mutilation of the first cigarette removed frequently results.

The present invention has for its primary object to provide a cigarette or similar package wherein the destruction of the stamp is insured when the package is initially opened, and wherein the removal of the first cigarette or cigarettes from the package is facilitated and mutilation thereof prevented.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will best be understood from the a following description of a preferred embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawing. It will also be understood, however, that the particular construction described and shown has been chosen for purposes of exemplification merely, and that the invention, as defined by the claims hereunto appended, may be otherwise embodied without departure from the spirit and scope thereof.

In said drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the package before opening.

2 is a similar view illustrating the operat on of opening the package.

Flg. 3 is a similar view illustrating the withdrawal of the first cigarettes from .the package.

Figs. 4 and 5 are detail perspective views of the combined closure and removal member.

As in the usual package, the cigarettes 10 are enclosed in a wrapper 11, the ends of which are folded over in the form of superimposed fiaps' 12 to close the ends of the package, and the revenue stamp 13 is arranged transversely of one end of the package across the flaps 12 at that end and is secured at its ends by suitable adhesive to the sides of the package. As thus far described the package may be of the usual or conventional form.

In carrying the present invention into effeet the tabs 12 are preferably secured together, by adhesive or otherwise, independently of the stamp 13, and are also preferably cut away at one side of the stamp to provide a removal opening 14 which, in the unopened package, is covered by a combined auxiliary closure member and opening tab 15 extending beneath the stamp 13 and between the latter and the flaps 12. The tab 15 is formed as a portion of What, for convenience, may be termed a removal member 16 which extends into the package through the opening 14 and is folded to form side and bottom flanges 17 and 18 respectively which engage the sides and lower end or ends of one or moreof the endmost cigarettes 10 of the group. Any suitable number of cigarettes may thus be engaged by the removal member, but preferably it is arranged to partially enclose the three cigarettes which, in packages of this character, usually constitute the endmost row of the group. The removal member 16, with its tab 15, is preferably composed of thin, relatively flexible, transparent material such, for example, as the cellulose 2' aecaeee product known in the trade as cellophane. in opening the package, the free end of the tab 15, which extends beyond the stem 13, is grasped and lifted by the fingers, as i 5 lustrated in Fig. 2, thereby rupturing the stamp 13 and exposing the opening 14:, the flaps 12 however being retained in position by their adhesive or other securing means as shown in Fig. 3. Thereafter, as illustrated in the latter figure, the removal member 15 is drawn out of the package by the tab 15,

thereby withdrawing the endmost cigarette or cigarettes which may therefore be readily removed without danger of mutilation.

M It will be clear that the obvious and most convenient way to open the package is by lifting the tab 15, thereby insuring the destruction of the stamp 13, as required by law, and that thereafter notearing away of the flaps 12 or other part of the enclosure is necessary in order to render its contents accessible, a single simple operation suificing to rupture the stamp, open the package, and withdraw the first cigarette or other article therefrom.

It will be understood that, after the withdrawal of the first two or three cigarettes, the removal of the others without mutilation is relatively easy, so that the combined closure and removal member 15, 16 may be discarded and the package thereafter used in the usual wag. a

aving thus described my invention, 15 claim:

l. A package of cigarettes or the like, comprising a wrapper having superimposed end closure flaps sealed together, a stamp atiixed to said flaps, said flaps being cut away to provide a permanent removal opening adjacent said stain and a transparent closure member extending beneath the stamp and between said stamp and the sealed he 5, said member having a free end beyond t e stamp adapted to belifted to open the package and simultaneously rupture the stamp. 4f?) 2. A package of cigarettes or the like, comprising a wrapper havin superimposed end closure flaps sealed toget er, a stamp afired to said flaps, said flaps being cut away to provide a permanent removal opening adjacent w said stamp, and a transparent combined closure and removal member having a tab normally covering said opening and extending beneath the stamp and between said stamp and the sealed flaps and a portion extending into said opening and engaging one or more of the cigarettes, whereby said tab may be lifted to rupture the stamp and expose said opening and thereafter operated to withdraw said removal member and the cigarette or cigarettes engaged thereby.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature.

JAMES H. REED, 

